Growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, serum corticosterone level and intestinal histomorphology in broiler chicken supplemented with Kaempferia galanga and Curcuma longa

The study was conducted to evaluate the individual as well as synergistic growth promoting effects of K. galanga and C. longa in broiler chicken. Total 150 Vencobb 430Y chicks were grouped into four treatments (T1 to T4). The birds of T2 and T3 were supplemented with K. galanga at a level of 25 g/kg of feed and C. longa at 1.9 g/kg of feed respectively, and the birds of T4 were supplemented with a combination of K. galanga (62.5 mg/kg) and longa (0.38 mg/kg). The weekly body weight, cumulative feed intake and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. On forty-second day, three birds from each treatment were humanely slaughtered and the carcass characteristics, serum biochemical values, serum corticosterone level and intestinal histomorphology were studied. Significantly better growth-promoting activities in terms of body weight, FCR and carcass characteristics were exhibited by birds from treatments fed with K. galanga alone and its combination with C. longa. No significant difference could be observed in serum biochemical parameters and corticosterone level, but significantly higher villi-to-crypt ratio was observed in K. galanga fed alone and combination fed groups. All these data are indications of the growth-promoting efficiency of K. galanga alone and its combination with C. longa in broiler chicken. A combination of these two herbs [K. galanga (62.5 mg/kg) and C. longa (0.38 mg/kg)] can thus be recommended for commercial broiler chicken considering the economic feasibility in terms of higher body weight gain and low cost of herbal additives.